Google exec emphasizes human oversight in autonomous AI systems

At the Fortune Brainstorm AI Singapore conference, Sapna Chadha, Google's VP for Southeast Asia and South Asia Frontier, emphasized the growing importance of human oversight in agentic AI systems. These systems, which leverage powerful language models to perform multi-step tasks, are expected to be embedded in 33% of enterprise software by 2028, automating nearly 15% of daily workflows.

Three Stages of AI Adoption

Vivek Luthra, Accenture’s Asia Pacific data and AI lead, outlined the three stages of AI adoption:

• AI Assist: Agents help employees with individual tasks.
• AI Adviser: Agents provide insights for better decision-making.
• Autonomation: Agents autonomously manage entire workflows.

While most companies are in the "assist" or "adviser" stages, Accenture has already deployed fully autonomous AI agents in HR, finance, marketing, and IT. Industries like life sciences and banking are using these agents for regulatory approvals and fraud management.

Google's Vision and Safety Measures

Chadha highlighted Project Astra, Google's vision for a universal AI agent capable of diverse tasks. However, she stressed the need for responsible AI deployment, citing risks like rogue agents or unauthorized data sharing. Google has released a white paper outlining its approach to secure AI agents.

Transparency and Regulation

Both Chadha and Luthra emphasized transparency and user control. "You wouldn’t want to have a system that can do this fully without a human in the loop," Chadha said. She also called for robust regulation, stating, "It’s too important not to regulate."

Corporate Updates

• BankUnited Inc. appointed James G. Mackey as CFO, effective Nov. 1.
• Lindsay Corporation announced the retirement of CFO Brian Ketcham by Dec. 31.
• Block, Inc. joined the S&P 500, replacing Hess Corp. after Chevron's acquisition.

Tesla's Challenges

Elon Musk remained optimistic despite Tesla's 12% revenue decline, its worst performance in a decade.

Quote of the Day

— L’Oréal deputy CEO Barbara Lavernos